Cushion holder for shoulder straps



Sept. 2l, '1954 c. F. cRAwFoRD 2,689,343

Y CUSHION HOLDER FOR SHOULDER STRAPS med March 29, 1951 Patented Sept. 21., 195.4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHION HOLDER FOR SHOULDER STRAPS Claud F. Crawford, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc.,v Chicago, Ill., a cor-v poration of New York implicationk March 29, 1951, Serial No. 218,202

3 Claims.

, straps of ladies undergarments, but formerly known devices of this character have proven objectionable due to their bulkiness adversely affecting the fit of an outer garment, due to their difficulty in positioning, and in many cases they either cushioned without holding the straps, or held straps without easing the pressure of the straps on the shoulder. Further, devices of this character heretofore known were not sufficiently economical, in many cases could not be laundered or otherwise cleansed when desired, and did not suiliciently hold the strap or straps against slipping, or slipped with the straps.

With the foregoing in mind,it is an important object of the instant invention lto provide a shoulder strap holder for disposition beneath a Strap or straps, which provides a cushion so the strap does not chafe or press into the shoulder, and maintains a plurality of straps in proper alignment. i

Another` feature of the instant invention is -the provision of a holder for shoulder straps of ladies undergarments, readily positionable between a strap and the shoulder, the holding device itself preventing slipping ofthe strap.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of a holder for a shoulder strap made of cushioning material, and provided with integral loops in the upper surface thereof engageable by securing means to maintain a strap in proper position on the cushioning part of the device.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a holder for a shoulder strap made of soft cushn ioning material which effects a mild gripping action against the-skinof the wearer, thus preventing slipping of either the holder or the strap.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a holder for shoulder straps designed to lay over the crown of the users shoulder, with laterally moving securing means disposed on each end of the device below the crown of the shoulder, such securing means maintaining a strap in proper position on top of the cushioning part of the device, or maintains a 21 plurality of straps in proper alignment with-each other.

Also an object of this invention is the provision of a shoulder strap holder comprising a body part" of foam vlatex or equivalent cushioning material, with a thinner cover of elastic material having more strength, with integrally formed loops in the cover, and the cover being secured to the foam latex or cushioning portion ofthe device except for the loops, there being laterally engageable holding elements associated with the loops to maintain a strap or straps in proper position on the device.

Still a further object of the invention residesA may be laundered or otherwise cleansed whenever" necessary.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which i Figure 1 is a diagrammatic pictorial. illustration of the upper portion of a female body, show ing the use of a pair of shoulder strap holding devices embodying the principles of theinstant invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of one of the devices, illustrating the manner in which straps are connected to the device;

Figure 3` is a top plan view of one of the de-k IV-IV, looking in the direction of the arrows;

and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinalvertical sectional View taken substantially asin-` dicated by the line V-,V of Fig. 3.

As shown on the drawings:

One of the main purposes of the instant invention is to prevent tight shoulder straps from cutting or biting into the shoulders of a wearer, and at the same time prevent that shoulder strapl from slipping. The device also keeps shoulder straps in proper alignment with each other.

To this end, I have illustrated a female ligure l diagrammatically, the iigure being covered by a pair of undergarments, such as a brassire 2 and 3 slip 3. These' undergarments are equipped with shoulder straps 4 and 5, respectively, which are normally placed in superposed relationship over the shoulder of the wearer. In Fig. 1, I have indicated the device itself generally by numeral 6, to illustrate its disposition on the crown of the wearers shoulder with the straps overlying the device.

With reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that a preferred form of the device embodies a pad 'I of cushioning or resilient material, preferably foam latex, which is light in weight, ventilated in that the cells therein are intercommunicative, and is extremely soft and gentle in contact with the human skin. This pad I is generally of a shape of an elongated rectangle, and may be provided with pinked edges as indicated at 8. Also, preferably, the pad is of uniform thickness throughout, and for this purpose, a pad oneeighth inch in thickness has been found satisfactory.

The pad or body portion 'I is covered with a relatively thin sheet 9 of rubber or rubber-like material possessing more tensile strength than the substance of the pad 'I'. The sheet 9 is preferably provided with a smooth non-drag external surface.

Adjacent each end thereof the cover 9 only is provided with two laterally spaced pairs of adjacent slits II) defining transversely spaced loops II-I I. The entire cover, with the exception of these loops II-I I, is secured adhesively or by vulcanization, or in any equivalent method, atly overy the upper face of the pad 1. Only the loops are left free from the pad.

An individual holding element is associated with each pair of loops lI-II. Such holding element preferably embodies a flat strip I2 with enlarged end portions I 3-I3, so that the holding element has the general shape of a ilat dumbbell. These holding elements I2 may be made of any suitable material, transparent or opaque, and plastic holders have been found satisfactory.

When it is desired to use the device, it is a simple expedient to withdraw one of the heads I3 of a holder I2 from the adjacent loop II and move the holder laterally as seen in the lower portion of Fig. 2. The straps Il and 5 may then be placed on the cushioning device between the loops II-I I, and the holding element I2 pushed to the right as viewed in this gure until the free head is forced through the right hand loop II. The heads I3 on the holding elements I2 are preferably of a width slightly greater than the length of a loop I I, so that that loop must stretch somewhat to permit the passage of the heads, and thereafter the holding element will not come unintentionally free. When a holding element is properly anchored over the shoulder strap or straps, it will be in the position seen in the upper portion of Fig. 2. Thus, it will be noted that there are no clips to adjust, snaps to utilize, or pins to fasten, with the contingent danger of the latter becoming loose and injuring the person f the wearer. The elimination of snap fasteners, clips, straps with buttons or button holes,

Number 4 pins, and the like, materially reduces the expense of manufacture of the entire device.

It will further be noted that when the device is in position on the shoulder of the user, the two holding elements I2-I2 are disposed below the crown of the shoulder as is clearly apparent from the showing in Fig. 1 so that the entire device sets smoothly over the crown of the shoulder, and does not adversely affect the t of an outer garment, nor disclose its presence by causing an unsightly bulge in the outer garment. Further, the straps are held in correct alignment as is evident from the showing in Fig. 2, prevented from slipping by virtue of the cushion pad 'I adhering gently to the skin of the user, and the pad 'I effectively eliminates any irritation of the wearers shoulder caused by tight and narrow straps.

Obviously the device may be made in any desired color to render it more invisible beneath transparent garments, and the device may readily be washed when necessary without any injury whatever.

It will be understood that modications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a shoulder strap holder, a pad of foam latex, a covering of rubber-like material having slits therein defining laterally spaced and longitudinally extending loops, said covering being secured to said pad except for said loops, and a flat, transversely extending, holding element positioned under said loops and adapted to be positioned over a longitudinally extending shoulder strap disposed between the loops.

2. In a shoulder strap holder, a pad of foam latex, a covering of rubber-like material having slits therein defining laterally spaced and longitudinally extending loops, said covering being secured to said pad except for said loops, and a fiat, transversely extending` plastic strip having enlarged ends engaged under said loops and adapted to be engaged over a shoulder strap longitudinally disposed between said loops.

3. In a shoulder strap holder, a pad of cushioning material, a cover over one face of said pad, said cover having longitudinal slits therein defining laterally spaced longitudinally extending loops, said cover being secured to said pad save for said loops, and ilat holding means transversely slidably positioned under said loops and adapted to extend over a shoulder strap positioned between the loops.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wyeth Dec. 27, 1921 Goldsmith Apr. 6, 1926 Spindler Jan. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Mar. 16, 1926 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1941 Number 

